toppling the taliban, pushing al qaeda from afghanistan, safe havens, training afghan forces, putting al qaeda under unprecedented pressure and killing osama bin laden. meanwhile in iraq, the troops have battled, trained the forces, given the iraqi people have been opportunity for a better future. it's now in their hands. while it's not always -- it's not always makingings the headlines, every day. every single day our forces are serving with distinction in far formed corners. from west europe, south america, north africa, faced with reless -- relentless adversaries, they have proven to be not only innovators but people like admiral mullen. as they have grown, i have grown to respect him more and more. pioneered tactics, masters languages, deployed new technologies. they have taken on responsibilities once reserved only for colonels and generals. the responsibilities have extended far beyond the battlefield, politics, economics, development task. we were talking about -- i was talking with my good buddy about it i think just two days ago. it's astounding. it's astounding what you guys